114 Journal of Agricii/tiiif. Vn-tmia. [10 Feb., 1917. 



Southern Grass Tree {Xim/Ji'in Ikki ausfraH-s). 



(Fig. 62.) 



This is the Common Grass Tree known by several local names such as 

 Black Boys or Kangaroo Tails. It has a trunk like a fern tree, but 

 with long, narrow, drooping blades or leaves. The usually solitary 

 flower spike, which is sometimes up to 3 feet long is carried on a stout 

 upright stalk. Grass Trees furnish a resin soluble in alcohol, containing 

 the base of picric acid. This resin, wliich exists in this species in con- 

 siderable quantities, is very inflammable, and grass trees therefore burn 

 fiercely, are however seldom killed by fire, and flower generally speak- 

 ing, only after being burnt the previous season. 



Bees gather the resin eagerly and use it as propolis for filling cracks 

 and the spaces between the ends of the top bars of the frames 

 and the hive wall. During cool weather this resin sets so hard and 

 cementlike that the frames, become almost unworkable, while, during 

 warm temperatures, it adheres to everything coming in contact with it. 

 Being soluble in alcohol it is however easily removed from the hands 

 by methylated spirits or petrol. 



The flower of the grass tree furnishes pollen to bees, and profusely 

 secretes a very watery nectar, often neglected by bees, which when 

 gathered produces a rank unpalatable honey. Except in seasons when 

 no other nectar-yielding blossoms are available, grass-tree country 

 should be avoided in locating apiaries on account of the trouble of the 

 glueing together of everything in the hive and of the poor quality of 

 the honey. 



Small Grass Tree (Bayonet Grass) {Xniithoirhn'ii iniiior). 



(Fig. 63.) 



The well-known, rough, tussocky grass, found on usually sour soil 

 with' a clay subsoil, all over the State, except in the North-East. Like 

 the Grass Tree it flowers only after burning. The flower spike is smaller 

 but often quite a number spring from the same plant. The leaves 

 are unpalatable to animals, excepting the underground, soft, white 

 portion, which, in times of food scarcity, is pulled out by kangaroos, 

 scratched out by rabbits, and also eaten by stock when the tussocks are 

 uprooted by the stock-owner, when forage is scarce. 



The flower yields pollen, and is a valuable hel,p to the bees in 

 drought seasons when pollen is scarce. The nectar is watery, and some- 

 times secreted so freely that it can be shaken out of the blossom into 

 the ,palm of the hand. Like the nectar of the Grass Tree it is sometimes 

 neglected, possibly on account of the extreme dilution. 



Small Grass Tree also contains resin, but as the base, of the plant is 

 underground and only accessible to bees when uprooted it does not 

 cause trouble with propolis in bee-hives. 



Spear Grass Tree (Xnnfhrirrhtrn JidxIiJis). 



This is confined to the far east, and up to the present nothing is 

 known as to utility for bee-keeping. 



